Iggy Brazeikis hopes to be Michigan's latest international success following Moritz Wagner

PORTLAND, Ore. — Moritz “Moe” Wagner became one of the darlings of the NCAA tournament last month, charming reporters and fans with his quick wit, trash talk and endless on-court motor. Wagner’s play took Michigan all the way to the national title game, where the Wolverines fell to Villanova.

Iggy Brazdeikis participates in practice at the Hoop Summit.

So who can be the next international star for Michigan, especially if Wagner leaves early for the NBA? Ignas “Iggy” Brazdeikis would be happy to fill that void in Ann Arbor starting next fall. He's got the international game and a nickname, so he seems to be the perfect fit.

A 6-8, 200-pound forward from Ontario, Canada, Brazdeikis is in Portland this week to participate in the Nike Hoop Summit, an annual showcase event that pits the nation’s top high school seniors against a collection of some of the world’s best young international players. Teams practice all week at the Trail Blazers practice facility, with some sessions open to NBA scouts and executives, and meet Friday night for a game at the Moda Center. The past eight No. 1 overall draft picks are Hoop Summit alums.

“Playing in the Hoop Summit has been a goal of mine for years,” Brazdeikis said Monday after World team practice. “I’m really trying to soak it all in.”

When he signed last November, Michigan coach John Beilein described Brazdeikis as a “dynamic player with the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways because of his size, length, athleticism and overall skill set.” Brazdeikis continues a Canadian pipeline to Michigan, following former Wolverine standout and All-American Nik Stauskas, now with the Brooklyn Nets. It’s a legacy Brazdeikis is happy to carry on.

“Michigan was actually my favorite team growing up, I think because of Nik,” Brazdeikis said. “I remember thinking, ‘Wow, it would be amazing to play there,’ because everyone loved him so much. Now I’m going to be in his shoes, and it’s so exciting.”

Brazdeikis and Stauskas struck up a friendship a few years ago, and have worked out together in Canada during the summer, with Stauskas doing his best to prep Brazdeikis for college basketball.

“He’s really trying to mentor me, to get me ready for the (Michigan) system properly,” said Brazdeikis, who picked the Wolverines over Vanderbilt and Florida.

Brazdeikis watched the 2018 title game from his couch at his family’s home in Canada, living and dying with each Michigan shot.

“I was literally sitting on the couch, trying to do moves,” he laughed. “It’s like, ‘Put me in, coach!’ I felt like they were missing me. I felt like I could have helped. But it was amazing to watch them go that far, seeing them play so unselfishly.”

The World team is headlined by fellow Canadian R.J. Barrett, a 6-7 wing committed to Duke who is the consensus No. 1 overall player in his class. But Brazdeikis said he’s been particularly impressed by the play of Andrew Nembhard, a 6-4 Canadian guard committed to Florida, and 6-10 center Charles Bassey, a 2019 prospect from Nigeria who currently plays at ASPIRE Basketball Academy in Louisville. Brazdeikis said Bassey “is a beast in the post, dunking absolutely everything.”

Brazdeikis hasn’t sized up the American team yet, confident that it doesn’t matter how loaded the U.S. might be.

“I feel like we’re gonna win the game,” he said, “and bring it back to Canada, and the world.”

The US is 14-6 against the world in Hoop Summit history.

As for his own play, Brazdeikis knows Friday night is one of his only opportunities to show off his skill set to U.S. viewers before he gets to Ann Arbor. He’s determined to be a fan favorite by the time he sets foot on campus. But if his play doesn’t do that, he’s got a backup plan for how he can get people on his side.

“I might be taking his jersey number next year if he goes to the NBA,” Brazdeikis said with a sly smile. He quickly added, “I hope he doesn’t!”